Best Art Vinyl 2015

Do you remember, back in November, choosing your favourite three album covers that had been nominated for the title of Best Art Vinyl 2015? (I hope you do, it wasn’t that long ago.)

Well, this evening, Rattle That Lock was hailed the very best of the 50 as chosen by a panel of respected music design experts and previous winners, ahead of Drenge’s Undertow and Tame Impala’s Currents.

Congratulations to Dave Stansbie and The Creative Corporation, to Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosis, and not forgetting Rupert Truman of StormStudios for taking such a wonderfully atmospheric photograph.

David had this to say:

‘I am thrilled that the artwork to Rattle That Lock has received the ArtVinyl award. I’d like to offer my congratulations and thanks to Dave Stansbie and the team at The Creative Corporation for the brilliant work that they have done for me. It’s a thrill to see vinyl making a comeback and the return of the opportunities that the larger format offers. Thanks again.’

Said Andrew Heeps, Best Art Vinyl founder:

‘This is the first year such an established artist’s record has won Best Art Vinyl, but notably the design team have historically been responsible for so many iconic sleeve designs and their talent and creativity to match the musicians’ wishes clearly shone through. It’s interesting that two of the top three are conceptual compositions, using photography as the core of the design and all three use digital design skills to great effect, showing that designers are using all tools available to them throughout the creative process. We believe this is a unique art prize that really taps into popular culture, as the created artwork is used to not just sell the product but to enhance the listeners’ over all experience.’

Thank you all for voting.

The shortlisted entries will now be featured in exhibitions in England, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Scotland, allowing them to be seen up-close and appreciated fully as the works of art that they are: in North Ayrshire Heritage Centre and The Vinyl Café, Kings Cross, London, until 31st January; until 31st March at Semm Music Store, Bologna and Belgraves Hotel, Belgravia, London; between 4th February and 30th April at Mono Art & Design, Budapest; and at High End at the MOC, Munich, between 5th and 8th May. If you’d like to go along and take a look, please see ArtVinyl.com for further details.

Author: FEd

Features Editor of David Gilmour's official blog, The Blog ('Features' previously being its rather naff title), affectionately - or lazily - shortened to 'FEd'.
View all posts by FEd

Congratulations to all concerned, hopefully starting the year as you mean to go on. Brilliant.

As an aside and sorry I’m not skilled enough to provide a link but a friend pointed out on YouTube a 1991 concert with David performing with Seal, Hey Joe, just watched it and is very good. Just a few minutes to give ‘Rattle That Lock’ a rest!

A fine rendition, I agree. It’s from Amnesty International’s Big 30 benefit, marking their 30th anniversary in December 1991, a TV special which was released on VHS. That might help anyone track it down. David also performed with Tom Jones and Spinal Tap, if my memory serves me well, and did a lovely ‘On the Turning Away’.

That’s how I’d like to remember him, too. The people around me were literally bouncing throughout the song and we’d all strained our necks trying to catch a glimpse of him as he appeared on stage. It was a warm reception if ever I saw one.

According to the Royal Albert Hall, that was the only time David Bowie performed there, as well as his final performance in the UK.

There was a sense of incredulity when he appeared on the stage. It created one of those rare moments when you felt the atmosphere was supercharged with electricity. I know that I for one, was tingling all over with what I was about to witness.

It is a thought provoking cover. I have always enjoyed that the canvas for vinyl is bigger, therefore more detailed. The album covers of the 1960s, 1970s, and until it was shrunk to other formats, were excellent art forms. A canvas of thought provoking journeys.

He was a huge fan of Syd Barrett, I remember he played ‘Arnold Layne’ (wasn’t it his last appearance on stage?) with our David and Richard at the RAH in 2006. Syd, Richard, David B, they have all disappeared way too soon, life is so cruel.

I bought and listened to his new album ‘Black Star’ on Saturday. I think it’ll sound very different when I re-visit it tonight.

He was indeed a huge fan of Syd Barrett. His interpretation of ‘See Emily Play’ from Pin Ups was the first version I’d ever heard and I didn’t know at that time it was a cover. I saw the ‘Lazarus’ video the day before the album dropped (his birthday) and was quite shocked at what I thought it was ‘telling’ us. How could we have possibly known how soon?

What a disturbing video (oh that ending when he is retreating into the wardrobe and closing the door behind him…). I know that Tony Visconti said “His death was no different from his life – a work of Art”, but I don’t think I’ll be able to watch the video again.

Another sad news today, I’m not a fan of Céline Dion, but I feel so sorry for her and her sons today. RIP, René. F*ck you cancer!

I was very fortunate to have been at the RAH the night David Bowie made his guest appearance. I was also lucky enough to have seen the Alladin Sane tour of 1973. For anyone interested in reading a little more about it here a link to an article.

It’s been a few days but I am still gutted at the passing of David Bowie. The morning I heard the news, I got off the train in NY and as I walked my way through a store to the street, they played Under Pressure. I admit I shed tears as I heard the opening bars. It was a surreal moment and I was a bit surprised how the passing of someone I never met, hit me with such sadness.

So I reflected back to the times I saw him perform, and it was 4 times plus Live Aid. When I looked up his tour history on Wikipedia, I realized just how lucky I was. If the site is correct, he only had 14 tours and 1,025 performances. And I saw him four times! And each show was fantastic, even The Glass Spider Tour that many did not like.

Anyway, the thing that gives me peace is knowing that at any time, I can pop in one of his albums and continue to experience the joy of his voice, his music and his artistry. That is what is so fantastic about music. The person may pass but the legacy lives on.

You speak for me Andrew. I just cried and cried when I heard the news. It sounds like such a cliché, but it felt like the sudden loss of a close friend. David Bowie’s example, and his music, made me feel a lot less lonely during my adolescence. Who doesn’t feel a bit vulnerable and lost during those awkward years; feelings that (for many of us) endure long past our teenage years? But just listen to Changes; it’s all there. “These children that you spit on, as they try to change their world. Are immune to your consultations, they’re quite aware of what they’re going through.”

Since 1986 it has been a family tradition to watch the Labyrinth during the holidays. My family and I enjoyed watching Mr. Bowie last month in the movie. It will not be the same watching it again.

Wish that the people that make positive contributions to the planet could live extremely long. And those that do negative would not be around very long so that they could not have much time to do their harm.

Did anyone see his publicity shoot for his new album Black Star? The photos were shot three days before he died. He looked like a man ready to go on tour. I wish I could attach the photos, he just looked amazing and not like a man ravaged by that hideous cancer. I was in Morrisons the other day and the store was playing Bowie and as I was stood watching my coffee pour, stood in a queue of people, I found myself doing the dance, LOL.

Beautiful Duke, beautiful mind, his loss has shaken the whole world. A friend of the Earth, naturally, and this reconnects to the initial theme of this post. What best way to picture the process of regaining freedom if not with beautiful corvids flying away?